Description of Casa Acquafresca, near Orvieto, Italy:
This country house, renovated in 2001, lies among meadows and fields and is surrounded by oak and chestnut woods. Even in very hot weather, the walls made of local tufa stone guarantee pleasantly cool temperatures indoors. The spacious grounds include sun-drenched meadows with numerous old trees, the shade of which seems made for the siesta hour. The house has two storeys. On the ground floor there is a large kitchen with an open fireplace, a dining area and two splendid, spacious living rooms, from which three doors lead out to two terraces, one of which is roofed. A walled stairway leads up to the first floor, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms leading off a spacious corridor. The house is well appointed and elegantly decorated, with old Italian furniture tastefully blended with modern elements.
Leisure time and sports: In the immediate vicinity (7 kilometres) is Lake Bolsena, a large crater lake, whose very clean waters extend to a depth of 150 metres, offering wonderful swimming conditions, particularly on its western banks. Surfing and sailing are possible with good wind conditions, particularly in the afternoons. Boats can be rented (mostly sailing boats). If you wish, we can provide you with up to 4 mountain bikes at a cost of 30 Euros for each bike per week. Please make your request for the number of bikes that you need at the time of booking. You can go for particularly beautiful walks in the nature reserve of Monte Ruffeno, which can be reached in less than half an hour. And the chestnut and beech woods of 2000-metres high Monte Amiata, which lies mostly in Tuscany, are worth an excursion.
Culture: All the sightseeing available in the area will leave you no time to get bored! The only problem is choosing between the many Etruscan tombs and the impressive museum in Tarquinia (60 kilometres away), and beautiful towns within a radius of about 50 kilometres, such as Todi, Viterbo and Orvieto, or smaller places like Tuscania, Pitigliano, Sovana and Sorano. Please feel free to contact us at any time for further information.
Sea bathing: Only 80 kilometers away, or a good hour´s drive along an interesting road, and you are on one of Italy´s cleanest beaches. In 2007 'L´ultima spiaggia', that is the last beach in Tuscany before the border with Lazio, was ranked in the highest category (along with only a few other beaches) by a well known environmental protection organisation. Here you can walk for hours along the beach, or enjoy delicous fish meals at a restaurant there (with table service or self service), or in the evenings, drink an aperitif as the sun sets behind Monte Argentario.